China tops list of fastest computers for 7th year in a row

San Francisco, June 20: A new list of the world’s fastest supercomputers provides more evidence that the onceyawning technology gap between the United States and China is closing.

China dominates a biannual ranking of the world’s 500 fastest supercomputers, called the Top500, that was published onMonday.NotonlydoesChina have the world’s fastest machine for the seventh consecutivetime,ithasthelargestnumberof computersamongthetop 500—afirstforanycountryother than the United States.

Also for the first time, the world’s fastest supercomputer uses Chinese-made microprocessor chips instead of chips from Silicon Valley’s Intel. Supercomputers are viewed in scientific circles as an indicator of national technology leadership, and they are vital for research in areas ranging from the development of new weapons and medicines, to the design of cars and consumerproducts.American computing experts and business executives have warned for years that leadership in supercomputing is vital to a range of national interests.

“Today even consumer detergent bottles are designed withsupercomputers,”saidEric D Isaacs, a physicist and provost of the University of Chicago. “The Chinese are getting good at building these computers, and it’s a competitive issue now for US industry and national security.”

The US primacy on the Top500listhasslippedforanumber of reasons. Government supportforsupercomputinghas beenslowedbylong-runningdebates on the level of federal spending on basic scientific research, as well as opposition to funding for industrial innovationthatisnotdirectlyrelatedto nationalsecurity. NYT